One of Isaiah’s most remarkable prophecies about the Davidic King also emphasizes the peace enjoyed in His kingdom.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over His kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this (Isaiah 9:6-7).
The Prince of Peace would rule and bring increasing, never-ending peace. Isaiah went on to depict peace in the most memorable terms.
There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him … the Spirit of wisdom and understanding. … The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder’s den. They shall not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of Him shall the nations inquire, and His resting place shall be glorious (Isaiah 11:1-2, 6-10 cf. Isaiah 65:17-25).
“The wolf shall dwell with the lamb.”
Only Jesus fits these seemingly opposite word pictures. Obviously, Jesus is not a literal “branch” of wood, nor is He a literal “root” in dirt. Rather, as a “branch,” Jesus is the descendant of Jesse and David (Isaiah 11:1; Matthew 1:1, 6; Acts 13:22-23). As “the root of Jesse,” He is the source of life, even for His forefather Jesse (Isaiah 11:10; Romans 15:12 cf. Revelation 5:5; 22:16). God’s “holy mountain” typically stands for His peaceful kingdom (Isaiah 2:2-4 cf. Micah 4:1-7; Hebrews 12:22). What better way to portray peace than by drawing pictures of harmony between the predator (the wolf) and prey (the lamb) and between the helpless (the child) and the harmful (the cobra)? That these are figures, not to be taken literally, is evident by comparing Isaiah 35:9, “No lion shall be there,” with Isaiah 65:25, “the lion shall eat straw like the ox.” Both are pictures. As images of peace, both are true. The Messiah’s kingdom is blessed with goodwill and unity, free from harm.